Scores of Syrian rebels killed in government ambush near Damascus

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Scores of Islamist fighters were killed in an army ambush in the Eastern Ghouta area of the capital Damascus, Syria's national news agency SANA said on Wednesday.

Lebanon's Al Manar television said the attack occurred near the town of Otaiba and that the death toll may have been higher than 170. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said at least 70 rebels had been killed.